Star

Wars

Star Wars. Star Wars. Star Wars.

S T A R   W A R S

This week we are covering a wonderful little indie game called A House of Many Doors. We talk about the bizarre and captivating world within this game, the brilliant and off-the-wall writing, the frustrating turn-based combat, and Henry gets banned from ever using the bongos during a podcast again. 

Also, why we hate mainstream sci-fi stories.

Today we’re talking about one of Netflix’s most successful shows, Stranger Things. We’re far too late to the party since season 2 came out months ago, but we’ve still got plenty of rad opinions about the character development and the lackluster villain. And we reconcile with the plain fact that this season is far less good than the first one.

Also, why we hate Black Friday Madness. 

This week we’re going back 21 years to the glorious year of 1996, when Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson made their first film: Bottle Rocket. Henry absolutely loves it, and Samuel likes the first and third act. That’s about it. (How’s an asshole like Samuel get such a great kitchen?)

Also, why we hate the audio quality the past two weeks.

Today we are finalizing our video game ranking list, and closing the book on our review review series. We discuss one of the best multi-player games in recent memory, a captivating idle game, some early access gems, and also we try to correct out accents. (We fail.)

Here is the finalized list:

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Minecraft

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

Overwatch

League of Legends

The Swapper

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Transistor

Luigi’s Mansion

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Rock Band

Super Mario Sunshine

Superhot

Fire Emblem Awakening 

Portal

Subnautica 

New Super Mario Bros. 

Pokemon Ruby

Metroid Prime

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story 

Jackbox Party Pack 2

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Mario Kart 8

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

The Room

Lego Star Wars

Ninjatown 

Trimps

Hearthstone 

Star Fox: Command

Fire Emblem Heroes

Mushroom Men

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games

(Apologies about Samuel’s audio in the first four minutes. His microphone decided to freak out on us, but again, it’s only for the first four minutes.)

This week we discuss Quentin Tarantino’s finest, Pulp Fiction. We recap the plot, go over the fascinating cast of characters, and wonder just what the hell was going on in the pawn shop. Good lord.

Also, why we hate Soylent.

Today we bring you the latest in our Review Review series, this time about video games. We talk about men who are mushrooms, crafters and miners, and leagues for the legends. Also, why are Nintendo games so dang good?

Here’s the list so far:

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Minecraft

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

League of Legends

The Swapper

Luigi’s Mansion

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Rock Band

Super Mario Sunshine

Fire Emblem: Awakening 

Portal

New Super Mario Bros. 

Metroid Prime

Bowser’s Inside Story 

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Mario Kart 8

Lego Star Wars

Ninjatown 

Hearthstone 

Mushroom Men

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle

This week we are talking about one of the most mixed movies in recent memory, Avatar. Is it the brilliant sci-fi epic of this generation? Or is it a forgettable CGI romp with generic themes? Tune in to find out!

Also, why we hate memories. 

Today we are covering two of our personal favorite directors: Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson. See, Samuel loves the Quentin, but can’t stand Wes. Meanwhile Henry loves Wes, but can’t stand Quentin. So we discuss each director as well as pitch their top three movies that the other host would like. Mass hilarity and movie recommending ensues.

Also, why we hate getting rear ended. 

This week we talk about one of the greatest war movies ever made, Saving Private Ryan. We talk about the coldhearted nature of war in this movie, the surprising amount of random cameos, and how much of a coward Upham is. Mickey Mouse!

Also, why we hate what happened in Las Vegas. 

Today we are continuing our ranking of every single book we’ve reviewed. Some are good, some are great, most of them are terrible. And Samuel really really doesn’t like picture books.

(Also, this was recorded before we reviewed Frankenstein, so that’s why it’s not on there.)

Here’s the now complete list (spoilers): 

The Bartimaeus Trilogy 

The Hobbit 

The Lord of the Rings 

The Book Thief

Wolf in White Van

Gone

BZRK

Gregor the Overlander

Universal Harvester 

The Great Gatsby 

The Inheritance Cycle

Okay for Now 

Variant 

Rot & Ruin

True Grit

I am a genius of unspeakable evil 

The Hunger Games 

Insignia 

Deltora Quest

The Invention of Hugo Cabret 

The Chronicles of Narnia 

Ender's Game

The Giver

Percy Jackson

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 

Artemis Fowl

Lunatics 

Everlost 

The Maze Runner 

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer 

Lost in the River of Grass

The Name of This Book Is Secret

Unstoppable 

After the Bomb 

Ungifted 

This week we’re reviewing a classic tale, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. We discuss the lack of “Frankenstein tropes,” the beautiful language and writing style, and just how tragic of a character Victor Frankenstein is.

Also, why we hate phone fanatics. 

Today we continue our Review Review series, where we take a look at all the stuff we’ve reviewed in the past and rank order it for no reason at all. And this time, we’re taking a look at books. There are robotics teams! Nuclear fallouts! Demons! Cats and dogs living together!

Here’s the list thus far (spoilers!)

The Bartimaeus Trilogy 

The Hobbit

The Book Thief 

Wolf in White Van

Gone

Gregor the Overlander

The Great Gatsby

Variant 

Rot & Ruin

True Grit

The Hunger Games

Insignia

Ender’s Game

Percy Jackson

Lunatics

Everlost

Lost in the River of Grass

The Name of This Book Is Secret 

Unstoppable

After the Bomb

Ungifted

This week review one of the best movies of last year, Martin Scorsese’s Silence. We talk about the deeply entrenched themes, the compelling characters, and why this movie might be a once-in-a-lifetime watch.

Also, why we hate our chairs.

Today we continue and conclude our stupid movie ranking of all the movies we have ever reviewed. Compromises are made and blood will be shed. (Okay, there wasn’t any bloodshed, it’s just this list was difficult to make.)

Here’s the Official Finalized List (spoilers):

Inception

Galaxy Quest

Whiplash

The Big Short 

Frank 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 

Memento

The Shawshank Redemption 

Birdman

The Matrix

Groundhog Day

The Blues Brothers

The Incredibles 

Blade Runner

Guardians of the Galaxy

Back to the Future

Interstellar 

Hot Fuzz

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Hardcore Henry

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The LEGO Movie

Forrest Gump

Edge of Tomorrow 

Locke

Primer 

A Simple Plan 

Hacksaw Ridge

Django Unchained 

Good Morning, Vietnam 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 

Captain America: Civil War

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Percy Jackson

Captain America: The First Avenger 

Jurassic World

Transformers

This week we’re reviewing the survival game Subnautica. We cover lush visuals and creative soundtrack, the sheer amount of things you can DO in this game, and inevitably compare it to Minecraft about a dozen times.

Also, why we hate shipping. 

Today we’re doing something really weird. We’re going through all the movies we’ve reviewed, and ranking them incredibly arbitrarily as better than each other. Insanity ensues. 

Here’s the list so far (spoilers, obviously): 

Inception

Whiplash

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 

Birdman

The Matrix

Groundhog Day

The Blues Brothers

Guardians of the Galaxy

Back to the Future

Interstellar 

Forrest Gump

Edge of Tomorrow 

Primer 

A Simple Plan 

Good Morning, Vietnam 

The Hobbit

Age of Ultron

Percy Jackson

Captain America 

Jurassic World

Transformers

This week we cover one of the most well-liked comedies of recent years, Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz. We talk about the brilliant and absurd premise, the smart comedic touches, and excessive, so extremely excessive, violence.

Also, why we hate iTunes. 

Today we bring you another list episode: this time, we’re tackling our top ten favorite moments in video games. We talk about D&D role-plays, swapping to other people, fearing clowns, multiplayer madness, baby bosses, and visiting Tokyo. 

Also, why we hate Nintendo console scarcity. 

This week we discuss the beautiful and sad video game, Transistor (just in time for Supergiant’s new game, Pyre). We cover the fantastic art style, the depressing story and the world, and the begrudgingly repetitive combat. 

Also, why we hate (misogynistic) Doctor Who fans.   

Today the topic is holidays! We discuss all manner of holidays, what we like about them, what we don’t. We debate Memorial Day versus Veteran’s Day, wonder why we don’t celebrate Juneteenth, and forever question the modern relevance of Columbus Day. 

Also, why we hate miniature versions of games. 

This week we cover one of Edgar Allan Poe’s lesser-known short stories, The Fall of the House of Usher. We go into detail about the brilliant (and somewhat dated) writing style, the genuine terror in this book, and try to define a fissure.

Also, why we hate Xbox names. 

Today Henry and Samuel discuss their top ten favorite moments in movies. We cover everything from touching final moments, couples botching robberies, cowbell J.K. Simmons, telling the truth to aliens, and cussing.

Also, why we hate keyless cars. 

This week we talk about the divisive movie Hacksaw Ridge: Henry really can’t stand it, and Samuel enjoys it. We cover the hackneyed romance, religious undertones, admittedly cool battle scenes, Andrew Garfield’s performance, and much more.

Also, why we hate 2017 movies lately. 

Today we bring you another one of our music episodes! Henry has forced Samuel to listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” and Samuel has forced Henry to listen to Haydn’s Symphony No. 101 in D Major. All our thoughts on these two very different pieces of music, plus the invention of a revolutionary new percussion instrument!

Also, why we hate covfefe (several weeks late).

(This episode contains a lot of language.)

This week we cover one of the strangest books we’ve ever read, Universal Harvest by John Darnielle. We explore the multiple storylines, the “show, don’t tell” plot, and the insanely fresh writing style.

Also, why we hate country highways. 

Today on the podcast, we each talk about our top ten favorite TV shows of ALL-TIME. We cover spaceships named for bugs, Heisenberg, 90s sitcoms, trekking stars, modern British detectives, anime, and the one son that had to bring them all together. It’s Grumpy Young Men.

Also, why we hate meaningless acronyms. 

This week, we talk about the brilliant party game, Jackbox Party Pack 2. We talk about some of our favorite games from the pack, as well as Jackbox games in general and why they work so well. 

Also, why we hate Pop! Figures. 

Today we discuss something near and dear to most people’s hearts: children’s shows. So inevitably, we talk about Steve and Joe, Dora and Diego, Max and Ruby, and Buzz and Delete. Oh, and where are all the girls on Sesame Street?

Also, why we hate loud vehicles.

This week, we talk about one of the most charming movies ever, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. We cover the insane humor and style, the totally likable antics of Michael Cera, and wonder if like Nintendo paid for this? Or they got paid for this? How does product placement work?

Also, why we hate flavored water.

This week, we talk about Star Trek, one of our all-time favorite sci-fi properties. We discuss everything that works well (which is a lot!) and everything that works terribly (which is also a lot!) with this long-running franchise. 

Also, why we hate emojis. 

Today we review one of Hemingway’s best novels, The Old Man and the Sea. We cover its unusual metaphors, the consistent writing style, and the paragraphs and paragraphs of boat terminology. Also, three minutes of moon talk!

Also, why we hate incomplete box sets.

In tandem with our “top ten movies” and “top ten video games” episodes, today we discuss our own personal top ten books. Join us as we rave about green lights, a single month in mid-19th-century, Michael Grant, Suzanne Collins’ better series, djinni, and inevitably, skeleton detectives. 

Also, why we hate productivity steam. 

Today, we review the hit mobile game, The Room. We discuss some of the problems with the puzzles, the lackluster story, and the incredible mechanics and general “feel” of this game.

Also, why we hate the timing of illness.

Today, Henry and Samuel are here to tackle the topic of streaming video services. We cover some of the things they do right, the surprising rise of the industry, and the unique original content they put out and produce.

Also, why we hate “Install Our App!”. 

Today on the podcast, Henry and Samuel review the little-known indie movie, Frank. We develop a four-stage process for Frank, praise the triangle of main characters, fall in love with the music, and try to figure out why this movie is just so damn good.

Also, why we hate movie release date conventions.

For this special episode, Henry and Samuel discuss their top ten favorite video games. We cover brawling, civilizing, jumpman-ing, leaguing, and Samuel’s overreaction to multi-leveled platforming.

Also, why we hate health bars.

Few books are as near and dear to the hearts of prepubescent Henry and Samuel as the Deltora Quest series is. It may not have been a long series, but it had great riddles and a very imaginative world. The question is, what do we think of it now?

Also, why we hate the Oscars.

Today, we are here to talk about musical scores. We bring up some of our favorite musicals, best original scores, most creative and fun soundtracks, as well as scores that just enhance the movie in general. We also briefly cover some of our favorite scores in TV and video games. Note: we were very tired when recording this.

Also, why we hate inconvenient breakage. 

Today we review the newish Nintendo game Fire Emblem Heroes. We break apart and praise the simple gameplay style, criticize the star-system, and wonder what Nintendo’s mobile future will look like.

Also, why we hate “additional storage required”.

After our review of Rogue One last week, we thought it would only be appropriate to talk about more Star Wars. Specifically, we discuss the future of Star Wars. Obi-Wan spinoff movies! Episode VIII predictions! Recasting Han Solo? All this and more on Grumpy Young Men.

Also, why we hate console storage.

Today we review the new Star Wars movie, Rogue One. We discuss the lackluster beginning, the thrilling conclusion, and ultimately do our best to try and rank it amongst the other Star Wars movies. 

Also, why we hate Netflix descriptions. 

Today for our special episode, we take turns ranting about overrated things. We start out with some classic overrated bits of media, but eventually, it just dissolves into what you could buy instead of stainless steel appliances.

Also, why we hate this basement.

Today on the podcast, we review the critically-acclaimed indie game, SUPERHOT. We discuss the game’s innovative gameplay, its bizarre story, and the visual and audio style.

Also, why we hate businesses that don’t accept the internet.

In this special episode, we have once again forced each other to listen to an album a little outside of our comfort zones. Samuel brought “Who You Selling For” by the Pretty Reckless, and Henry brought “At Least We Have Our Health” by Silo’s Choice. Join us as we go through each album song by song, and discuss everything from lyrics to instrumentation to album structure.

Also, why we hate computer updates.

Today Henry and Samuel cover the young adult sci-fi thriller, BZRK. We go over the bizarre characters, the crazy sci-fi world and setting, and predictably make a lot of comparisons to The Matrix. (I mean, the sequel is called BZRK Reloaded! Come on!)

Also, why we hate 2016.